Tooth-brush holder, sterilizer, and dehydrater.



E. C. DYE.

TOOH BRUSH HOLDER, STERILIZER, AND DI-LHYDRATER` APPLICATION FILED 'rn/m27, 1915,.

Patented vngy 2, i916,

,tooth brush 2.

l al' ERNEST C. DYE, OIF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TOOTH-,BRUSH HULCDER, STJERILIZER, AND DEHYDRATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

` Application led March 27, 1915. Serial No. 17,421.

To all ywlw/m 'it may concer/n Be it known that I, ERNEsT C. Drs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Greenville and State of South Carolina, have invented new and useful Iml'n-ovements in Tooth-Brush Holders. Sterilizers, and Dehydraters, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to tooth brush holders, and one of its objects is to provide a holder and sterilizer whereby the brush may be sterilized, dried and protected securely against the access of dirt, moisture and dlsease germs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush holder which permits of the use of a volatile germicide in'an effective manner, and which affords manifold conveniences and thorough sanitation in the use and storage of the brush.

`T he invention consists of the featuresAof construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinaly section of a holder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing the parts of the closure cap lseparated and ar-v ranged in proper relationship. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. et is a vertical transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa bottom or lower end View of the brush receptacle. Fig. isa view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing certain modifications. v

1n carrying my invention into practice, I

provide a tubular or cylindrical receptacle 1,

diameter to receive a.

of proper length and This receptacle may be made of any desired 'or suitable material and has a closed lower end 3 and anopen upper end +1, through which latter end' the brush 2 is inserted and removed. t

The end 4 is adapted to be closed by a cap 5, which may be detachably fitted thereon in any preferred manner. As shown in Fig. 1, the cap 4 has a tight frictional engagement with the receptacle l, and the upper closed end of said 'cap is provided with an apertured lug 6 by means of which the device as a. whole may be suspended from a nail or othersuitable support.

The end 3 of thel receptacle 1 is provided with perforations, 7, and the sides of said rev pend below the perforated end .the same in regulated quantities ceptacle l are also provided with perforations 8 extending around said receptacle and from a point about midway of the length of said receptacle down to the lower end 3. These perforations T are for the purposeof permitting the drainage off of any water or moisture which may be deposited in the receptacle from the brush, and both sets of openings 7 and 8 are also provided for the purpose of permitting a circulation of air through the receptacle to dry out the brush lafter use, as will be readily understood. The

cap 9 is provided to slip upon the perforated lower end of the receptacle 1 to normally close the perforations 7 and 8, and this ca ispreferably made of a greater length than the perforated portion and iitted so as to abut against a stop 10 just above the line of the perforations 8 when fully applied; so that the lower closed end of the cap will de-l 3 and form a chamber 11 to receive the drip water from the interior of the receptacle, -thus insuring the complete removal of all moisture from the interior of the brush containing chamber.

he vcapr -5 contains therein means for storing a volatile germicide and discharging into the rec'eptacle. As shown, the casing 12 projects intothechamber of the cap from the outer closed end vof said cap and contains a charge 13 of -a suitable absorbent material, such as cotton, which is saturated with a volatile germicide, such as formaldehyde. This body of absorbent material is retained in position 4by a Bange retaining cap 14 threaded or with a. transverse strip or handle 18 projecting beyond diametrically op osite sides thereof, whereby'the disk may e turned to throw the rows of apertures into and out of registration or to bring theml partially into register to control the supply of formalwith similar rows of perforations 17 and table or other support.

dehyde to the receptacle or to entirely cut off such supply.

It will thus be understood that the receptacle contains av charge of a volatile germicide which may be supplied to the interior of the receptacle as desired and re quired, and the supply of which may be properly controlled. Also it will be evident that the vapor from this germicide descending into the receptacle will render the receptacle and brush absolutely sterile, and that an undue supply of the germicide to the interior of the receptacle may be at all times prevented, while the construction is such that upon the removal of the closure cap the interior of the germicide storage chamber may be conveniently reached to replenish the same whenever necessary. It will also be seen ,that after the brush is used and stored away, the moisture draining therefrom by gravity will pass downward into the chamber 11 of the cap 9, and that this cap may be adjusted or removed to expose some or all of the perforations 8 and 7 to permit air to circulate through the portion of the receptacle containing the brush head,

`by which the brush head will be quickly and thoroughly dehydrated or dried. The construction 4described also provides for the ready and convenient cleansing of the interior of the receptacle whenever a thorough washing or other cleansing is deemed necessary.

It will be understood that the lug 6 provides a ready and convenient means for suspending the brush from a nail or other suitable support in a bath room or from a toilet As shown in Fig. 6, however, the lug 6 may be dispensed with and the receptacle may be provided with an annular rib or bead 18 for engagement with a spring clip 19 upon a support, whereby the device may be conveniently suspended or hung up.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 6, other modifications are also disclosed, the cap 5 being secured in position by means of separated spiral threads 20, while I have shown the perforations 8a terminating above the lower end of the receptacle and the perforations 7 dispensed with, by which construction the cap 9- need only be partly removed or revolved for the circulation of air and discharge of the water through the openings 8D. This form of receptacle is designed more particularly for travelers use, in guarding against any possibility of leakage. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, I may employ a chain or other flexible connection 21 between the receptacle l and cap 9 in order to prevent possible loss of the latter.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle of a form and size to receive a tooth brush, said receptacle being open at its upper end and having its lower portion provided with perforations in its sides, a removable cap for partially or wholly covering the perforated lower portion of said receptacle, aI detachable cap for closing the upper open end of said receptacle, and means within said cap for holding and dispensing a volatile germicide.

Q. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle open at its upper end and having perforations in its sides at its lower end, a closure for the u per open end of the receptacle, and a cap or closing the perforated lower portion thereof, said cap being of greater length than said portion so as to project below the lower end of the receptacle and form a moisture collecting chamber.

3. A device of the character described comprising a tubular receptacle open at its upper end and having perforations in its bottom and also having perforations in its side from a point about midway of its length to its bottom, a closure for the upper open end of the receptacle, and a cap for closing the lower end of the receptacle, said cap being of a length to inclose the perforated lower portion of the receptacle and to project below the perforated bottom thereof and form av depending chamber below the said perforatedy bottom.

In testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST C. DYE. Witnesses OTEY N. MILLER, W. MCC. NEALE. 

